The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has welcomed Heathrow Airport’s bold £49bn expansion plan, praising it as a model for delivering critical national infrastructure without burdening the taxpayer.

At the heart of the proposal is a £21bn third runway, entirely privately funded, which will unlock new routes, boost UK trade and expand capacity at the country’s most important global gateway.

ACE Director of Public Affairs, Ben Brittain, said: “This is exactly the kind of ambitious, privately funded infrastructure the UK needs. Heathrow is proving that growth, sustainability, and global competitiveness can go hand in hand, with the private sector leading the charge.

“With government support, Heathrow’s expansion signals that the UK is serious about global competitiveness. It sets a benchmark for future infrastructure: commercially driven, long-term in vision, and delivered without excessive reliance on the public purse.”